Kit for aiding surface cleaning

ABSTRACT

A KIT FOR AIDING CLEANING OF SURFACES FLOORS, THE KIT PROVIDING A RECEPTACLE ATTACHABLE TO THE HANDLE OF A BROOM, MOP OR LIKE SURFACE-CLEANING IMPLEMENT, THE RECEPTACLE BEING ADAPTED TO RECEIVE MATERIAL LEFT ON THE FLOOR SURFACE FOLLOWING CLEANING BY SUCH IMPLEMENT, AT LEAST ONE SURFACE-CLEANING DEVICE SUCH AS A SCRAPER BEING REMOVABLY MOUNTED ON THE RECEPTACLE FOR USEIN REMOVING SUCH REMAINING MATERIAL FROM THE FLOOR SURFACE, AND FOR INTRODUCING THE REMOVED MATERIAL INTO THE RECEPTACLE.

' L. L. TERZIAN KIT FOR AIDING SURFACE CLEANING March9, 1971 Filed Sept. 18, 1968 FIE--4- INVENTOR. LEO LfTE/QZ/AN ATTOF/VEKS United States Patent O 3,568,233 KIT FOR AIDING SURFACE CLEANING Leo L. Terzian, 712 Franklin St., San Francisco, Calif. 94102 Filed Sept. 18, 1968, Ser. No. 760,656 Int. Cl. A47l 13/12 U.S. CI. 15-105 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A kit for aiding cleaning of surfaces such as floors, the kit providing a receptacle attachable to the handle of a broom, mop or like surface-cleaning implement, the receptacle being adapted to receive material left on the floor surface following cleaning by such implement, at least one surface-cleaning device such as a scraper being removably mounted on the receptacle for usein removing such remaining material from the floor surface, and for introducing the removed material into the receptacle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a kit for aiding surface cleaning of a floor or other similar surface, and more particularly to a kit adapted for convenient mounting on the handle of a broom, a mop, or some other similar type of surface-cleaning implement.

Surface-cleaning implements, such as brooms or mops, have long been employed for cleaning up loose dirt and debris which are subject to relatively easy disposal. These implements have, however, presented a number of disadvantages when adherent materials or hard-to-sweep materials are encountered. In particular, rollable objects, such as filter cigarette butts, and adherent or sticky materials, such as chewing gum, sticky candy, heel marks, etc., require more effort 'to remove than just normal sweeping and/or mopping.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a compact and handy kit providing the essentials for aiding the cleaning of a surface such as a floor. The kit is carried in a handy location on the handle of the implement, and provides a receptacle for receiving the described hard-to-sweep objects. At least one surface-cleaning device, such as a scouring pad or a scraper is removably carried by the receptacle for aiding in the removal of hard-to-sweep material, or adherent material, from the floor surface being cleaned.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a floor cleaning accessory kit mountable in convenient position for use on the handle of a floor surfacecleaning implement such as a broom, brush or mop.

Another object of the invention is to provide a kit of the character described which affords a receptacle adapted to receive hard-to-sweep materials as may be physically removed from the floor surface and placed in the receptacle by the operator either before or after the sweeping, brushing or mopping action of the implement.

Another object of the invention is to provide a kit of the character described which incorporates one or more easily removable floor cleaning devices, such as a scouring pad or a scraper, in handy position for use by the operator in removing stains, heel marks and other stubbornly adherent materials.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAJWINGS The preferred form of the present invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a surface-cleaning kit constructed in accordance with the present invention, the

3,568,233 Patented Mar. 9, 1971 kit being shown mounted in operative position on the handle of a broom.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal cross-sectional view of the surface-cleaning kit of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the kit of FIGS. l-2, taken substantially on the plane of line 3-3 of FIG. -2.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of a scraper device forming part of the kit of FIGS. 1-3 and shown in operative position to remove an adherent material from the floor.

While only the preferred form of the invention is shown and described in detail, it should be understood that various changes or modifications may be made within the scope of the claims attached hereto without departing from the spirit of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings in more .detail, the kit 11 of the present invention is adapted for mounting on .the handle 12 of a surface-cleaning implement, such as a broom 13. The kit 11 includes a receptacle '14- mountable on the handle 12 and adapted for receiving material re.- maining on the floor surface following cleaning by broom 13, together with a surface-cleaning means 16 removably carried by the receptacle I14 and formed for removal of adherent material from the surface being cleaned and for introduction into the receptacle of the removed material.

The receptacle 14 is preferably constructed of a lightweight, somewhat flexible conventional plastic. The main portion of receptacle -14 here is generally tubular and has interengaged concentric sections 17 and 18, see FIGS. 2. and 3. The upper section 17 provides a generally cylindrical side-wall 19 formed with a window 21 and having an enlarged upper-end portion 22, closed at the top by end wall 23, which is formed with a central circular opening 24 to receive the handle 12.

A skirt 26\ projects downwardly from the enlarged portion 22, in spaced relation to side-wall 19, to provide a slot 27. At its open lower end 28-, the side-wall 19 is formed with a downwardly-extending flange 29 of somewhat enlarged diameter.

The lower section 18 includes a side-wall 30 of somewhat tapered shape, and which merges, at its upper end, into a cylindrical extension wall 31 of somewhat reduced diameter. The section @1 8 is open at its upper end and its lower end is closed by a wall r32 having a central circular opening 33 to receive handle 12. The extension wall 31 is formed with a window 34. The window 34 is of approximately the same size as, and is positioned for selective registration with, the window 21.

Section 17 has a sliding fit in section 18 and is held against relative axial displacement by engagement of the rim of extension wall 31 in slot 27 and flange 29 invthe mating shoulder 36 provided at the juncture of side-Wall 30 with reduced diameter extension 31. The sliding fit is such that section 17 may be manually rotated with respect to section 1 8 between an open position, in which the windows 21 and 34 are in registry, as shown; and a closed position in which the windows 21 and 34 are out of registry to seal the receptacle against spillage of its contents.

Stored within the receptacle 14 is a scouring pad, 37, of nylon, steel wool, or other conventional surface-cleaning material. The pad 37 is of such size, as to be maintained tightly in position when wedged between the handle 12 and the wall 22. A scraper 38 is also removably carried by receptacle 14 and may be of stainless steel, or other suitable material conventional for the construction of scraping devices. The scraper 38 here is formed from a flat strip bent back on itself to provide a scraper leg 39 having a beveled forward edge 41 and a clip portion 42.

When receptacle 1 4 is in the open position shown, the

clip 'is removably engaged over the lower edges of windows 21, 34. To permit closure of the receptacle by relative rotation of sections 17, 18, while the scraper 38 is in place, wall 19' is slotted at the lower corner of window 21, as at 43. The slotted portion 4 3 is dimensioned to receive snugly the curved portion 44 of scraper 38 so that the contents of the receptacle cannot spill out.

The kit 11 serves to aid the cleaning of a surface, such as a floor, by the broom 13. Easily sweepable materials are, of course, swept up in the usual manner. However, waste materials which do not sweep easily, such as filter tip cigarette butts, paper clips, sticky paper, etc., must be picked up from the surface being cleaned. These materials are conveniently inserted through the windows 21, 34 into the receptacle 14 for later disposal.

The scouring pad 37 aids in the removal, from the surface being cleaned, of cigarette burns, stains of various kinds, heel marks, and other blemishes which require scouring of the floor surface. When the scouring pad 37 is to be used, it may be readily withdrawn fromthe receptacle 14 through the windows 21, 34. After use, the pad 37 and the removed material is readily reinserted into receptacle 14, through the windows 21, 34.

As shown in FIG. 4, the scraper 38 is employed particularly for the removal of waste materials which tightly adhere to the surface being cleaned. Although such materials, such as chewing gum, food, candy, or other sticky substances might be removed by the souring pad 37, the

scraper 38 provides the advantage of operation upon a comparatively limited surface area and is particularly effective for removing thick deposits. When the scraper 38 is to be employed, it is manually removed from its normal position on the receptacle and is held between the thumb and forefinger, as shown in FIG. 4. The beveled forward edge 41 of the scraper 38 is then brought into contact with the material 46 adhering to the surface being cleaned, and the material 46 is removed from the surface being cleaned and deposited, through the windows 21, 3-4 in the receptacle 14.

Upon completion of the surface-cleaning operation employing the broom 13 and the kit 11, both the scouring pad 37 and scraper 38 are replaced in the receptacle 14,

together with any waste material removed thereby. The

sections 17 and 18 are then manually rotated with respect to one another to close ott windows 21, 34. The kit '10 may then be transported to an area for convenient disposal of the waste material contained therein. At the same time, the pad 37 and scraper 38 are retained within the receptacle 14, safe against loss.

sweep, including both sticky materials and materials which are diflicult to sweep because of their shape or size. The kit and its components are protected against loss and the kit 11 is relatively inexpensive and easy to use.

I claim:

11. A kit for aiding surface-cleaning comprising,

a receptacle mountable on the handle of a surfacecleaning implement and adapted for receiving material remaining on a surface following cleaning by said implement, and

a surface-cleaning means removably carried by said receptacle and formed for removal of adherent material from the surface being cleaned and for depositing of the removed material in said receptacle,

said receptacle being formed with relatively movable wall portions having registrable window openings therein to provide a selectively closable window for inserting said material into said receptacle.

2. A kit as described in claim 1 and wherein said relatively movable wall portions are tubular and concentric and have a sliding fit, interengaging means being provided on said Wall portions to retain the latter against relative axial movement while permitting relative rotational movement.

3. A kit as described in claim 1 and wherein said receptacle is formed with end walls having aligned openings adapted to receive the implement handle, said end walls at said openings being adapted to grip the handle for removably retaining the kit in place thereon.

4. A kit as described in claim 1 and wherein said auxiliary surface cleaning device is a scouring pad stored inside said receptacle.

5. A kit as described in claim 1 and wherein said auxiliary surface-cleaning device is a scraper having a clip portion removably engaged with said receptacle at said window.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 64,755 5/1867 Fessler et a1. 222r-191X 132,367 10/1872 Musgrove 15--257.2 715,756 12/1902 Clover 15257.6X

1,990,026 2/ 1935 Glen 15246X 2,312,041 12/1943 Lillie l3547 3,408,681 11/1968 lsakson 15--257.2 3,432,873 3/1969 Moss 15-118 FOREIGN PATENTS 335,456 4/ 1930 Great Britain l3547 37,746 6/1906 Switzerland 15-1 11 DANIEL BLUM, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

